Mode of covering the roofs of buildings with tin-plate or other metal



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oriucn.

J. B. DUVAL, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

MODE 0F COVERING THE ROOFS 0F BUILDINGS WITH TIN-PLATE 0R OTHER METAL.

Specification of'Letters Patent No. 933, dated September 19, 1838.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, JOHN B.V DUVAL, of

ments in the Mode of Covering the Roofs of Buildings with Tin-Plate and other Thin Sheets cf Metal; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof. l

rlhe object of my improvement is to lay on the tin plate in such a manner as shall allow a free expansion and contraction to the metal, while the whole covering is effected without the use of solder in any part, or the driving of nails through any of that portion of the tin which constitutes the covering.

I am aware that tin plate, and other metals, have been used as covering for houses in a manner somewhat analogous to that which I am about to describe; but I have made certain improvements in the mode of procedure, by which the desired object is attained more simply and eiectively than heretofore.

In the accompanying drawing, A, represents one of the sheets of tin plate, the upper edge of which is turned overstoward the face of the plate, and the lower edge Z2, is turned back in the same manner, a section from top to bottom appearing as at B. The ends c, d, of the plate have a double turn, at c, d, a section from c, to cl, appearing as at C. Then these sheets are put together the coiled ends are to be slipped into each other, as shown in the section, C, where the coil upon the end of the piece e, is seen as slipped into the coil c. In this manner the respective sheets are all connected together lengthwise. The laps at the upper and lower edges serve to connect them widthwise, in a manner which will be obvious, as it is in the common manner of joining tin plate by seaming there are, however, certain important provisions in the mode of doing this as linvented by me.

`In Figure D, f, f, are straps which are turned under at bottom so as to hook into the lap, a., a, and these straps are nailed into the plank with which the roof is covered, and constitute the only fastening of the tin plate thereto; g, g, are wider straps, which are attached to the tin plates in the same manner; but these are not to be-nailed vto the planking, their ofiice being to support the tin plate which is to be hooked into the lap above the straps f, and g. These are to be put together breaking joints, as at l1., at the junction of each plate there is to be a small piece of tin, cut square, as shown at E; this is to be slit by the shears at at t', and the point i, is to pass under the double lap which connects the platesendwise, as shown at z', Fig. D, its upper edge passing under the lap a, a; this piece eftectually secures the only part of the connection of thev respective plates where leakage might be apprehended.

touched with the soldering iron, so as to attach them to one plate only, and remove all danger of their working loose by the expansion and contraction of the metal,with which they will not interfere in the slightest degree.

The entire procedure in connecting the respective plates with each other, and with the wood work of the roof, has been thus fully explained, excepting that it remains to remark, that after uniting the plates together, the seams are all to be beatenv down by a mallet, and the operation is completed. The dilerence between my mode of procedure, and those in whichthe edges of the tin are curved up, and slit tubinglis passed over them, or other analogous means of allowing for expansion and contraction, will be apparent, as I allow for it eiectually with all the seams closed down by the mallet.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combining together of the Vseveral sheets which are to constitute the covering of a roof, as above set forth; that is to say, the combining of the double seaming of the ends, with the mode of Aemploying the straps on the edges for fastening and sustaining the sheets, and the pieces E, for securing the C. H. ALLILBERGEn, N. F. PETIT. 

